Seed activation system and method

Abstract

A seed activation system includes a shattering layer applied to an outer surface of a seed. The shattering layer forms a water-resistant coating around the seed that prevents the seed from germinating. An activation mechanism for transmitting electromagnetic energy is provided such that the shattering layer is compromised to break the water-resistant coating. The seed is then able to receive water and germinate. A seed activation method includes applying a shattering layer to an outer surface of a seed. The shattering layer forms a water-resistant coating around the seed that prevents the seed from germinating. The method further includes planting the seed in a soil, selecting an activation time, and activating the seed at the activation time by transmitting electromagnetic energy into the soil such that the shattering layer is compromised thereby breaking the water-resistant coating. The seed is then able to receive water for germinating.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A seed activation system, comprising:
 a substantially solid, water tight, and brittle silica-comprised shattering layer applied to an outer surface of a seed, wherein the shattering layer forms a water tight coating around the seed that prevents the seed from germinating; 
 signal activated additive included in the shattering layer; and 
 an activation mechanism for transmitting electromagnetic energy, the activation mechanism configured to compromise the shattering layer thereby breaking the water tight coating while only effecting the shattering layer such that the seed is able to receive water and germinate after electromagnetic energy is transmitted. 
 
     
     
       2. The seed activation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a prime layer applied to an outer surface of the seed underneath the shattering layer. 
     
     
       3. The seed activation system of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially solid, water tight, and brittle shattering layer is between about fifty nanometers thick to about two-hundred nanometers thick. 
     
     
       4. A seed activation method, comprising:
 applying a substantially solid glass shattering layer to an outer surface of a seed, wherein the shattering layer forms a water-barrier coating around the seed thereby preventing the seed from germinating while the coating remains intact; 
 planting the seed in a soil; 
 selecting an activation time; and 
 activating the seed at the activation time by transmitting electromagnetic energy into the soil such that compromising the shattering layer consists of breaking the water-barrier coating by effecting only the shattering layer such that the seed is capable of receiving water for germinating. 
 
     
     
       5. The seed activation method of  claim 4 , wherein deposing a layer of glass comprises spraying the seed with a spray-on liquid glass technique. 
     
     
       6. The seed activation method of  claim 4 , wherein applying the shattering layer comprises mixing seeds with glass beads and applying heat to at least partially melt the glass beads such that the outer surface of the seeds are coated with glass. 
     
     
       7. The seed activation method of  claim 4 , wherein transmitting electromagnetic energy comprises transmitting microwaves from a microwave source. 
     
     
       8. The seed activation method of  claim 4 , wherein transmitting electromagnetic energy comprises transmitting ultrasound from an ultrasonic transducer. 
     
     
       9. The seed activation method of  claim 4 , wherein applying the shattering layer comprises applying the water-barrier coating with an additive, the additive adapted to initiate shattering of the shattering layer upon receiving electromagnetic energy. 
     
     
       10. A delay-able seed activation method, comprising:
 applying a solid, brittle, water impermeable glass coating material to an outer surface of a seed at a thickness of about fifty nanometers thick to about two-hundred nanometers thick, the coating material adapted to prevent germination of the seed; 
 planting the seed in a soil; and 
 following a delay, transmitting an electromagnetic energy through the soil such that the electromagnetic energy activates an additive to the glass coating material and thus compromises the glass coating material while effecting only the glass coating material thereby allowing germination of the seed to occur. 
 
     
     
       11. The delay-able seed activation method of  claim 10 , further comprising selecting an activation time for transmitting the electromagnetic energy following the delay. 
     
     
       12. The delay-able seed activation method of  claim 10 , wherein the additive for enhancing cracking upon receiving the electromagnetic energy is a metal. 
     
     
       13. The delay-able seed activation method of  claim 10 , further comprising transmitting the electromagnetic energy from a plurality of transmitters coupled to a trailer towed behind a tractor. 
     
     
       14. The delay-able seed activation method of  claim 10 , further comprising transmitting the electromagnetic energy from a plurality of transmitters coupled to a field sprayer.